The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced plans to streamline the process for obtaining No Objection Certificates, or NOCs, which are required for construction and development projects near airports. The Union Minister of Civil Aviation has instructed his team to complete the groundwork for these changes within fifteen days. The move affects builders, property developers, businesses and the general public who need these certificates for projects in areas around airports.
What is being changed
The ministry wants to make the NOC process faster, more transparent and largely automated, cutting down on manual paperwork. Currently, NOCs are issued through the No Objection Certificate Application System, or NOCAS, which covers areas up to 20 kilometres from airports for visual flight operations and up to 56 kilometres for instrument flight operations.
The minister has asked officials to explore several specific changes:
- Providing applicants with permitted building heights right at the start, especially in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, so they know the restrictions before planning their projects
- Simplifying the aeronautical studies process and reducing the need for on-site physical checks in early stages
- Reducing paperwork requirements for building plans and documentation
- Allowing Urban Local Bodies, or municipal authorities, to issue NOCs locally where possible, rather than requiring applicants to approach airport authorities directly
- Making height information and other relevant data publicly available on websites
All of these measures must be examined and implemented within fifteen days, according to the minister’s directive.
What this means for you
If you are planning construction near an airport, you should soon find it easier to understand whether your project is allowed and what height limits apply. The process is expected to become quicker and less dependent on back-and-forth visits to airport offices. Local municipal authorities may handle some approvals, making the system more accessible. However, these changes are still being worked out, so the actual timeline for implementation remains unclear. Aviation safety standards will continue to be maintained even as procedures are simplified.